MAFFS Operations Update

US Northern Command announced on 11 July 2012 that military C-130s equipped with the US Forest Service's Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems have moved staging operations from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Colorado Springs, Colo., to Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Four of the aircraft, two C-130Hs each from the 153rd and 302nd Airlift Wings are operating from Boise Air Terminal, in Idaho. Two C-130Js from 146th Airlift Wing are now operating from Hill AFB, near Salt Lake City. The Forest Service requested MAFFS operations relocate to reduce response time for fire fighting. Since being activated June 25, the MAFFS fleet has completed 163 drops of 423,931 gallons of fire retardant on ten Rocky Mountain area fires.